Service to others requires bringing not only one's time - and money - but also the talents to fill the need.

Jeff D. Looney not only gives of himself saving lives via the Isle of Wight Rescue Squad, but also his skills as a mechanic are considerably handy if one of the vehicles is in need of maintenance or repair.

Q: Where do you volunteer, and how long have you been doing so?

A: I'm on the Isle of Wight County Volunteer Rescue Squad. I've been doing it for about three years now. I've been put in charge of vehicle maintenance by the captain. Last year, I was voted in as lieutenant. I take care of a certain amount of people. I'm in charge of the officers, two other lieutenants, sergeants and secretaries. The volunteers are divided between the other two lieutenants. I take care of things as I best I can over there.

My wife and I got involved through friends of ours. One was a full-time firefighter and the other a volunteer. They let us ride along. My wife and I really liked it. We put in applications and joined the squad. There's a ride-along/observe program, and potential volunteers can observe what's going on and decide if that's something they want to do.

Q: How many hours do you volunteer in an average week?

A: About six to 12 hours.

Q: What keeps you motivated?

A: It's neat to be able to do this. It's a change from being a mechanic. I enjoy the people here. Honest to goodness. It's just like in television. It's a niche and everyone treats you like family. Never once did I feel unwanted. From the first person to the last, they're outstanding.

Q: How has this service challenged you?

A: I had to start learning from scratch. I have been a mechanic for 15 years. There are changes every day. You never know what you're going to get.

Q: What has been your most memorable experience as a volunteer?

A: There was the time a person took another hostage. A SWAT team was called in. We couldn't go into the hot zone. That was kind of intense. Ultimately, the man got smart and let the person go.

A couple of weeks ago, we picked up a resident at a convalescent center. She was just a firecracker. She had a witty remark for everything.

Q: What do you want the public to know about your work?

A: That we're here for them. If they've got the time, it's nice to have them around. Also, it doesn't take as much time as you think to volunteer.

Q: How long did it take to train at the start, and how long before you felt comfortable going out on calls?

A: The initial training roughly, depending on call volume, ended up being about three months, four months. It was about six months to a year, but there's always a certain nervousness because you want to do things right.

Q: If you had an unlimited budget available to you, what would you spend the money on to make your work reach more people?

A: Get a newer facility, update the equipment, upgrade everything, and advertise more for people to join.